i just put a new engine in my 87 transam. everything is running fine but for some reason i still have that annoying ticking when ever i go up a hill or if i go above 2500 rpms. i've timed it as best as i can but my question is could low oil cause the ticking or is it just going to be a timing thing? if its just a timing thing maybe i'll go get it tuned once i get 500 miles on it and can take it to a dyno shop

 

It could be a cracked flex plate. Did you put the old one on the new engine?

 

no its a new flex plate. im thinking not enough oil in it or timing but it cant be that far off. i just cant seem to nail it

 

pull your valve covers and check for lo0ose rockers, adjust lash accordingly

 

right so i went ahead and adjusted my valve lash. let me make sure i did this right. turn crank to tdc on the compression stroke both #1 int and exh valves should be closed. adjust the following valves Exhaust 1, 3, 4, 8, Intake 1, 2, 5, 7. turn crank 180 degrees to put valves in position #6 with #6 int and exh valves closed adjust the following valves Exhaust 2, 5, 6, 7, Intake 3, 4, 6, 8. so this is what i did i loosened them till i had some play them i tightened them little at a time till there was no play and went 1/2 turn more. but now for some reason i dont get compression on my engine. i tryed to start it after i was done cause i figured it that it wouldnt mess with the timing and i got a huge backfire out of the carb.

 

i would say that one or more of your valves are open allowing compression to leak past, when you have an engine that can run, its best to adjust the lash while its running

 

and i do that by backing off one valve at a time until i here a ticking then i tighten until it goes away right?

 

yes, be prepared to catch some oil though :P

 

I would loosen them all a few turns until it runs. Then do them one at time while running. Loosen one until it clicks and then tighten it 1/4 of a turn at time until it stops, then 1/4 turn more.

 

That backfire thing happened to me.
The fact is that when you go through the lash cycle....the first 1 you did will be loose again. I made the mistake of doing it all again...so when I cranked it up I had fire coming up through the carb. Very cool looking but freak out material and obviously not right.
I went ahead and loosened every single rocker til all were flopping.
Went out next day and lashed using OPPOSITES and all worked fine.
I understand that the system you used works fine...but it did not for me.
Also sadly I had deeper issues with the motor and it had to be pulled and rebuilt.
That's done now and it's running but I'm out of project money for the time being.

 

HOORAY! i just reset all the valves and took her out for a spin. had to adjust the timing on the dist a bit but other then that it works and works like my dream (kind of). and i know what you mean by project money my next step is a paint job. im too embarrassed to put a pic of my car up cause it needs one bad. after that its on to restoration of the interior.

 

no more ticking?

 

no more ticking.

 

good to see i was of some help to yah :P my 305 did the same exact thing lol

 

Great news.
Kudos to the home mechanic.
I'd hate to see a mechanic bill for the stuff we do on our own eh?
Nice work on getting it right...

 

I worked for a dealership and i saw some of those bills, ouch...

 

hell yeah. i couldnt imagine how much it would have cost to put my engine in. or how much it would have cost to readjust my valve lash. my wife wouldnt have let me do either and my car would still be sitting at my friends house engineless collecting rust

 

through a dealer to do a long block you typically pay about 2500, - the cost of parts. i do engine swaps on the side for a grand. and i get it done quicker than the dealer does